Master Public Administration - University of Twente

The programme
The one-year Master’s programme Public Administration is divided into three periods:
- Throughout the first three quarters you take five core courses (25 credits);
- Your two personal profile courses are usually scheduled in the first and third quarter (10 credits);
- In the fourth quarter the focus is on completing your profile within a Master’s thesis (25 credits).

Core courses
The five mandatory core courses are aimed at bringing you up to date on the latest public administration theories and insights. The knowledge and competencies you acquire here will enable you to tackle the most pressing political and administrative challenges related to the big societal concerns of our time. By connecting these core courses to your profile choice, you can make sure you learn to apply this expertise in an area you care about.
Public Management: Research and Applications
Social Problems
Academic Research
Public Governance and Policy Networks
Public Governance and Legitimacy

Create your own profile
One of the unique aspects of the PA Master’s at the UT is that it does not just give you a solid footing in public administration, but also enables you to develop your own personal profile. You can do this by carefully selecting your profile courses, in combination with your graduation project. The profile courses offer you room to get creative and make connections you may not have thought of before, for example by linking public administration to a specific societal issue or domain you care about. Or tap into exciting courses offered through our many other Master’s programmes, from Communication Science, Psychology or Healthcare, to Safety & Security, Sustainability or Science & Technology.

Career opportunities
Despite government cutbacks in many parts of the world, career opportunities for graduates in Public Administration remain promising. Many public and private organizations are keen on finding talented people equipped to tackle complex public problems and successfully implement and manage new policies.
This Master’s programme provides an excellent springboard to a wide range of careers:
- Some 30% of our graduates become civil servants with a national or international government body, for instance the European Union;
- Around 40% find jobs in private organizations with links to the public sector, for example as a researcher or consultant;
- Another 30% find employment in areas such as healthcare, education, labour relations, insurance, charity or housing.
- The PA Master’s programme also provides an ideal basis for obtaining a PhD in the Netherlands or abroad.